Should I Supplement Vit. C?

[Love4Piggers]

Hi There,

I have been reading a lot of the info here including the stickies and Ly's color-coded chart, since finding this board last month. And since then, I have been offering my 2 boars all kinds of different veggies, and they have been getting a really good variety twice daily. But I have a problem with one of my boys, Bear. I'm concerned about whether he is getting an adequate intake of Vitamin C. I have tried every color of bell pepper, red, yellow, orange, and green, and my other boy Tutter will eat them all, but Bear won't touch them, even though I have offered him each color multiple times. So I've been giving him a small piece of orange 1-2x a week, thinking he would surely eat those. But he'll take a few nibbles, and then ignores it and won't eat any more. And I have KM's pellets, but I don't often see him eating those, either. I don't want you thinking he's not eating and that he's ill or something, because trust me, he eats plenty. (And his figure shows it, LOL.) But he just won't eat the things that he needs to get enough Vitamin C. He'll snarf up all the lettuce that is put before him, no matter what kind, (Romaine, Green Leaf, or Red Leaf, and they get at least one of these kinds of lettuce 2x daily w/ every meal,) as well as corn husks, baby carrots, parsley which they get approx. every few days, he loves kale when they get it, cucumber which they get every other day, and he absolutely loves cilantro, which they get almost daily. He also really likes certain fruits, like blueberries and banana, which they don't get very often at all, but when they do get these rare treats, he gobbles them up. He also eats KM's hay and drinks water. He seems perfectly healthy, but why is it that he is biased against eating anything with a significant amount of C?

Is there anything else with a good amount of C that I can try to feed him that I haven't tried yet? Or do I need to just start supplementing? And if so, what is the best way to do that? I know drops in the water is a big no no and I would never do that, so could I just cut a sliver off of my human Vit. C tablets, and sprinkle it over their veggies? Or do I need to get a liquid C and feed him with a syringe? Or is there another option? Any advice is much appreciated, thank you so much.

[pigsforlife]

I supplement all 4 girls with 1/4 - 1/2 a vitamin c chewable tablet once a week, admittedly they get a vitamin c enriched diet however being the worry wort I am, I can never be sure that they eat the vegetables high in vitamin c (I usually feed them as I am running out the door or just before I have tea). You need to make sure that the vitamin c is purely vitamin c with no added ingredients (if possible).

If I were you I would keep persisting with the bell peppers, parsley is a good source of vitamin c. Maybe you could try a vitamin c tablet every second day or so if you are really worried.

[Love4Piggers]

Thanks pigsforlife, you're always there to answer/comment on my late night posts. Guess that's probably because we're on opposite ends of the world and your time zone is a bit different I imagine.

Thanks for the advice. I will keep pushin' the bell peppers, actually they will always be included in their evening meal because Tutter loves them, doesn't seem to matter to him what color they are, either. So I am hopeful that Bear will decide to try them one of these days. Ly's chart says parsley can be given 2-4 times a week, so I think I'll be a little more generous with it than I have been. I may supplement every other day or so like you said, just to be on the safe side. Do you have a chewable C pill that your pigs will actually eat on it's own? Or do you have to crush it up in their veggies or something?

Thanks again, and since I haven't said it before, you rock!

[pigsforlife]

Usually I cut the tablets in quarters, this way it is quite small. I used to post them behind their front teeth, but now-a-days they take them as if they are a treat.

Guess that's probably because we're on opposite ends of the world and your time zone is a bit different I imagine.

Most likely, I am in Western Australia, Australia which is WST.

[aqh88]

They don't have to eat bell peppers to get vit c. You listed many veggies that he is eating and they all contain some vit c. Guinea Lynx :: Vitamin C Chart If he is eating at least 1 cup per day of veggies then he should be getting more than enough. Supplementing vit c continually when it's not needed can cause problems. Some research has been done recently into long term excessive vit c causing weaker bones and increased chance for bladder stones. At the least it is known that giving extra vit c for a long time will often cause the animal to require more vit c so when you stop giving it they will experience scurvy(vit c deficiency) even if they are still recieving what should be plenty of vit c for them to remain healthy. Your better off giving more veggies if in doubt than adding a daily supplement. Occasional supplements for suspected vit c deficiency or during illness is fine but these are temporary and not given every day for weeks or months on end.

[Ly&Pigs]

Like Aqh said, all veggies contain some vitamin C. I am sure he is getting the necessary amount through what he is eating. You could always give him a bit more of things he will eat. Kale is an excellent source of C, better than oranges but should only be fed 2-3 times per week. If he is eating veggies and is getting a nice variety, I wouldn't worry about a supplement.

[crazywiggy]

I agree with Ly - as long as your piggie is getting enough veggies (plus some good quality pellets) he should be fine.

If you want to try to give more vit C you could try slightly changing your meals to include more vit c rich foods. Most of the foods I could find listed as good for vit C are limited in the nutrition charts, but for different reasons.

So, although you only want to feed fruit a couple of times a week, try to make it a really high Vit C fruit such as kiwi. Dark greens, such as broccoli and sprouts should only be fed sparingly because they are gassy but these are also good for vit C. So even just between fruit and dark greens you could give such foods on four days. Tomato is another. So maybe give a combination of these foods (within Ly's limits), so every day he gets at least one good one. (so 2 days kiwi, 1 day broccoli, 1 day cabbage, 1 day parsley, 2 days tomato etc) If you choose things with different reasons for being limited you should be able to give something good every day.
Hope that makes sense!

[Love4Piggers]

Thanks so much as usual, aqh and Ly, for your helpful posts. I feel better. You two are always so helpful, I hope to one day be as knowledgable as both of you.

And to crazywiggy.... yesterday I bought a couple of kiwi's, (the boys were due for a little fruit,) and I served them some kiwi for their breakfast today. Bear immediately grabbed a piece and started chowing down. So that's a winner, and I will be serving them often on fruit days, thanks for the suggestion!

[John4216]

If you are concerned and want to be pretty sure they are getting enough I would suggest giving them Green, Yellow and Red Bell peppers. You can give them the yellow and green daily and they are pretty high in vitamin C. If they are eating a lot of dark greens that are high in oxalates make sure they are getting plenty of fluids as well (e.g. water bottle, high moisture food like cucumbers, tomatoes) and a good amount of calcium as well.

[Love4Piggers]

Well I have some great news. I kept at it, being persistant in mixing different colors of bell pepper in with Bear's veggies every day, and he is now officially eating green bell peppers! Just wanted to share my excitement.

[pigsforlife]

YAY! Persitence and determination always pays off! Congratulations!